I noticed that some of the tiles in my bathroom walls were loose and the grout was coming off. I am a very busy so kept on postponing calling someone to fix it. One day I got home and the loose tiles were lying broken on the floor. Can you imagine my frustration? I rang my brother in panic and he gave me Tile Cleaners' contact details. I rang them straight away. The guys told me I needed a tiler and professional regrouting work done so I thought it would take ages to fix my problem. However they organized the work very well. I had my tiles fixed on Friday night the same week and the entire bathroom regrouted on Saturday. Thank you some much for your quick help; it was such a relief.

Kerry McMyre, Mosman, NSW

My mother's tiles were old and ugly, as she has been living in the same house her entire life without ever really taking care of her tiles. I called Tile Cleaners to get advice on what to do with them. They came to her house the next day to have a look at my mum's tiles. I am very satisfied with how patient and highly professional you were with my mother. I am sorry I couldn't be there when you arrived, and I am really impressed by how you managed to explain everything to my mom and help her out. Thank you for doing a great job.

Angela Coopers, Concord, NSW

I was about to sell my house, but was not happy with the tiles in the dining area. The tiles were white and shiny but the grout looked really dark and dirty. I already had a potential client; however the dark grout ruined the beauty of the room. I didn't have much time to fix the grout and decided to call Tile Cleaners as my real estate agency mentioned them. As my real estate agent said, Tile cleaners responded really quickly. They also pointed out that some of the grout was coming off in the hallway when they were there, which I had not even noticed. Thank you for fixing my problem so quickly. The house is sold now and I left your details with the new owner so they can keep the tiles in good condition.

How to Remove Solvent Sealer from Tile

To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, please Call 1300 771 201 or use our online enquiry form

We cover all metropolitan areas.

In the past, natural stone floors as well as some porcelain tiles were frequently sealed using solvent based sealer. Although this product isn't preferred now due to its harsh chemical composition it still requires stripping from many floors as part of any restoration.

Tile Cleaners® use the safest and most effective methods for stripping solvent. Our qualified technicians have years of experience with all types of tiles that have a solvent seal including porcelain, slate, sandstone, bluestone and terracotta. Our state-of-the-art machinery can cater for smaller residential jobs to large commercial businesses.

What is Solvent?

There are essentially two different types of floor strippers, water-based and solvent based. Solvents are a much harsher product, cutting through grime with harmful chemicals. Solvent strippers are fast working and a small amount goes along way.

A large majority of house hold cleaners on the market are actually solvent based to some extent. If more people were aware of the harm that solvent cleaners can do to their floors and their health there would certainly be a change in preferred cleaners. Some chemicals in solvent based floor cleaners come with the following health warnings:

Severe irritant of the eyes, nose and throat

Neurotoxic

Respiratory problems

Irreparable damage to the respiratory tract

Toxic to fish and plant life

May damage red blood cells

These chemicals are not only inhaled but remain on floors where our children and animals literally crawl around. We all want clean floors but we also want our health to be protected.

When do floors need Solvent Stripping?

Solvent stripping is necessary when floors have had a solvent sealer applied in the past. It is not necessary to use this harsh stripper or cleaner on your floors unless the existing sealer is solvent based. Yet because they are fast and aggressive many contractors will opt for solvent stripping no matter what the sealer, instead of the safer water-based method. Due to the hazardous nature of solvent it is never suggested you attempt to strip yourself and you should always contact experienced professionals like Tile Cleaners®.

A water-based stripper is inadequate for removing a solvent sealer. Tile Cleaners® produce the worlds leading products that are effective in removing solvent sealers that have been down for many years including acrylic, epoxy, polyurethane, polyaspartic and polyuria resins. Our technicians will always evaluate the floor to see check whether a solvent or a water-based stripper is required.

Is Solvent Stripping Safe?

When carried out by a professional who is trained in removing solvent the process is extremely safe. It is when the proper safety measures aren't taken that it becomes dangerous to your floors, property and health. We have had cases where people have tried to strip solvent themselves and were found collapsed in their homes from the fumes. Solvent is a highly flammable and toxic solution so it must be ensured that no sparks or flames will be around the working area. Don't put your health at risk, call professionals.

Tile Cleaners® take all proper safety precautions:

Masks

Thick protective clothing

Methodic treatment

Proper ventilation

Minimized splash to protect plants and skirting boards

Proper clean and extraction of residue

As solvent is a very harsh product occasionally it can strip paint from skirting boards. Guards are used to avoid this as much wherever possible. It is mainly the fumes that are potentially dangerous, hence depending on the job, for you safety, you may be asked to leave the premises for a 24 – 48 hour period.

To schedule your appointment or to obtain a free estimate, Call 1300 771 201 today or use our online enquiry form

We cover all metropolitan areas.

Solvent Stripping Process

Tile Cleaners® technicians will always ensure they know exactly what they are dealing with before going ahead with any stripping job. There is a major difference between sealers and the strength of the existing sealer that must be matched with the stripper. After all furniture is cleared the process will begin with a solvent-based stripper being applied to the surface. Appropriate steps are taken to ensure slow evaporation as stripper only works when wet. The stripper is then removed with rotary scrubbers and any residue is extracted with our state-of-the-art machinery.

Resealing after a Solvent Strip

If a solvent strip has been carried out you will need to reseal your floors. The product that you are able to effectively reseal with depends on the type that was stripped.

A penetrating water-based sealer cannot be applied to a floor that was stripped of a penetrating solvent sealer, as water will never penetrate solvent. Your choices will be between another solvent seal or a topical water-based sealer that will sit on the surface.

Tile Cleaners® are the experts at applying all types of sealer and will ensure your surfaces look their absolute best. Tile Cleaners® experienced technicians can apply a topical sealer when especially required to create a high gloss, satin sheen or matte finish to your surfaces. Topical sealer is also helpful in situations where the old solvent based sealer can not be completely removed or when required to hide certain types of damage. Topical sealer's have a life expectancy of around 3 years.

Your floors will most certainly need resealing to ensure they continue to be protected from spills and are easy to maintain. Our technicians and specialists are happy to advise you on which sealer will be most suitable for your floors and provide you with the best long lasting results.

You will know it's time to have your floors stripped, cleaned and resealed once they begin to appear dull or "matte" even after you have given them an efficient regular clean. If you notice that your tiles are staining easily, it's a good indication that your previous sealer is wearing off and your floors will need to be resealed immediately to prevent permanent staining.

Yes, our tile cleaning services are safe! Tile Cleaners® generally use only the highest quality water based products alongside our state of the art cleaning machinery to provide the best cleaning solution without compromising your surfaces. Stone tiles are porous and require more attention than man made tiles, which is why its extremely important to use the correct products and equipment necessary to bring your tiles back to their best possible condition. Tile Cleaners® prides itself on specifically catering for each tile variety.

Tile Cleaners® prefer to use high quality non-solvent based stripping and sealing products. These products are not messy and won't damage your marble tiles or anything else in your home. Current non-solvent based strippers and techniques are more than adequate. Tile Cleaners® technicians can apply solvent based strippers in very specific circumstances, however this requires leaving the premises for up to 48 hours and a very high level of safety and protection.

Here at Tile Cleaners® we understand the importance of your family's safety, which is why Tile Cleaners® prefer to use non-toxic finishing agents as we not only want to protect your marble floors, but your families health too. Materials and agents that present potential health hazards are not in our product portfolio and never have been.

If you want your surfaces to be their cleanest and looking their very best you need to have a professional remove as much of the old sealer as possible. Once this is done the cleaning process will be carried out and the sealer applied. You will have the freshest and cleanest possible floors once we are finished with the process.

Tile stripping and sealing is simply the process of stripping the coating off the marble floor before resealing it. Surfaces can begin to appear dull and lifeless over time, making them look older and really bringing down the feel of any area. By stripping and resealing, you can bring back the beautiful, lustrous appearance of your surfaces and eliminate the cost of laying new flooring.

Our professional team will go through the job processes with you step by step so you know exactly what you're getting. The process includes stripping any previous sealer if it was applied, the floor is then thoroughly cleaned and neutralised so that it is free of dust, residue and anything else that can affect the new sealer. A new sealer is applied to the dry floor and allowed to set. The newly sealed floor will not only look new again, it will be protected and result in your floors becoming easier to maintain.

It depends on the type of sealer used and the amount of foot traffic the tiles are being exposed to. Australia's Deepshield® range of deep impregnating water based sealer's, offer long term benefits with Deepshield Gold® lasting up to 15 years. Topical sealer's have a life expectancy of around 3 years. If you have a high amount of foot traffic or perhaps severe weather conditions(for outdoor tiles), you may experience a shorter lifetime. Sealing your floors can also depend on the tiles condition. Once they start showing patchy areas and are staining easily then you should have them resealed. Give us a call and we can assist you with all your enquiries.

Many porous natural and man made surfaces can damage easily, any oily or harsh spills can damage the tiles and penetrate the surface pores leaving a permanent stain, unreachable by domestic cleaning methods. We strongly recommend sealing your tiles to keep their natural look and feel, to protect them against permanent staining and to prevent any future accidental damage. They will look their very best for longer and will be easier and more convenient to maintain.

The best time to have your tiles sealed is immediately after installation to prevent any accidental staining or damage. You will know that your floor needs sealing once you start noticing patchy sealed areas of the floor and/or your tiles are staining easier.

Efflorescence is a problem that most porous tiles can face. It's the tendency of the water in the stone or tile to bring salts to the surface as it evaporates. The water evaporates leaving the salts on the surface resulting in a whitish coating and ruining its finish. The only way to avoid this problem is to seal your tiles with one of our highest quality water resistant sealer's and to stop the source of the water that is penetrating the tiles, for example a water pipe leak or damaged grout.

Yes we can. Efflorescence is a build up of salts and can be removed with efflorescence removers and other specialised cleaning techniques. Efflorescence is typically caused by a leakage behind the tiles or through damaged grout lines. The efflorescence can be removed but it is important the cause of the efflorescence is resoled.

To keep your tiles and grout looking new, Tile Cleaners® recommend cleaning each week with a mild detergent to remove any dirt or grime from the marble surface. Strong detergents(strong acid or alkali) may affect the sealer, mild detergents and pH neutral substances are strongly recommended.

Tile Cleaners® charge per square meter for each separate room. There is a price list on the Tile Cleaners® website for you to review. Before we begin our work we will measure each room individually, confirm the work to be carried out as well as confirm all costs with you.

We recommend that you measure each area separately. The simplest way to measure is by multiplying the width by the length. For example a room that is 3 meters long and 2 meters wide is 3 X 2 = 6m2 in total.

Tile Cleaners® technicians can help to move items that one person could be expected to move such as furniture with wheels, light furniture, tables and chairs, however as Tile Cleaners® insurance covers our restoration services, we will not be held liable for any damage caused to furniture or property you request our technicians to move.

Client Range

We clean and restore a huge range of tiles and surfaces in all locations including: